The Kenyan band takes us on a retrospective journey of 45 minutes exploring the various melodies and vibrant harmonies composing their afro-pop sounds.The East African music moguls are back with an amazing body of work featuring some of Kenya’s finest acts namely, Xenia Manasseh, Bensoul, Nviiri The Storyteller or Okello Max as well as Pan-African collaborations such as Sho Madjozi, the Soweto Gospel Choir, Black motion and international ones alongside India.Arie and Mortimer.
“Midnight Train” the first track is a mid-tempo song with an interesting fusion of guitar, bass and their colourful harmonies reflecting on their journey and how amazed they are to be here today. The song has an optimistic tone when we focus on the catchy lyrics and the addressed ambition to reach the promised land.
Their latest single “Insecure” still hits the same way it used to when it first came out in May; a beautiful song addressing the self-esteem issues of two lovers who are both afraid to see their soulmate leave one day.
The romantic atmosphere set by “Insecure” is still here in “Feel My Love”, a sublime song made of a rich instrumental with the soothing sounds of the guitar, a transcendent bassline and impressive vocals.
The band switch it up with the optimistic anthem “Brighter Days” alongside the wonderful Soweto Gospel Choir sending an uplifting message full of hope on a vibrant instrumental that will give you chills. This mix of lively vocals, harmonies and languages is probably what the audience need in those hard times.
“Brighter days” is followed by “Nenda Lote” a soulful track in Swahili narrating the story of a woman avoiding her husband; the mellow melodies conveyed by the guitar and the instrumental as a whole will move the audience even if they do not understand Swahili. “Midnight Train” is a journey that will amaze the listeners at each stop as the atmosphere keeps on changing in a smooth way; “Suzanna”, the upbeat hit, has been making people dance since February 2020 and it is safe to say that Polycarp Otieno’s boisterous chords are addictive and still slaps!
There is a possibility to imagine a certain storyline from “Nenda Lote” to “My Everything” with “Suzanna” asking her husband that she is avoiding in “Nenda Lote” to “Set Her Free” (Interlude)
One of the best collaborations of the project is definitely “My Everything” where the pioneers teamed up with the Soul/R&B figure India. Arie and delivered a late-night jam masterpiece. Bien Aimé’s soothing vocals and India’s sweet sounds created special chemistry on the slow-paced track.
Like it was mentioned before, Sauti Sol are really good at switching the different atmospheres and they prove it here with the festive song featuring Jamaican musician Mortimer: “Wake Up” following the slow jam featuring India. Arie being followed by “Sober”, another tranquil song in which they are pouring their heart out.
The two last songs of the album are impressive collaborations. “Rhumba Japani” is a contemporary rumba song, identifiable thanks to the title obviously, but also the particular chords and the modern touch brought by the trap pattern of the percussions. With the vocals of Bensoul, Nviiri The Storyteller (Sol Generations artists) and R&B singer Xenia Manasseh this party anthem will put the audience in a good mood for sure!
The project ends with the energetic “Disco Matanga” song (soundtrack for Queen Sono, South African series on Netflix) featuring the sensational Sho Madjozi and Black Motion, this Kenyan & South African collaboration is a vibrant fusion of cultural elements such as languages and rhymes, no one can stay still when this song comes on!
This 13 tracks-album is not just an amazing piece of work but it is an example of how Sauti Sol masters the art of storytelling and it is also a confirmation of their pioneers’ status in Afro-pop, in Africa.
Listen to Midnight Train via Apple Music.